Transformers are, well "transform"ers. A toy that transforms from one form to another. However, there are some toys that only claim to "transform".

I think we can forgive G1 toys for the use of partforming, due to their lack of engineering, but today partforming do still exist, the latest one perhaps TF Prime Unicron. It's just not transforming when you take off one piece and put it back like a LEGO.

And don't get me started with Faux Parts. The many faux parts on the movie series is the reason I lost interest in them. Look at DOTM Optimus. Fake windshields a over.

Neither, really. I grew up with G1, so whatever they entail is what I consider "Transformers." That's the line I compare every other line to. Sometimes the newer line exceeds g1, sometimes it doesn't. There have been certain improvements in design and engineering, but I think each line is unique in its own way. Be it partsformers, or faux parts (2 things I never really "got" nor do they bother me) I take it as part of whatever style that particular line is in. If I had to choose, I'd say faux parts stick out a bit more, but it's never been a big enough problem to keep me from enjoying a figure, whether transforming it or just displaying it. I'm a Transformers fan, and I take the figures as they come, even when sometimes I dislike some features.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Neither, really. I grew up with G1, so whatever they entail is what I consider "Transformers." That's the line I compare every other line to. Sometimes the newer line exceeds g1, sometimes it doesn't. There have been certain improvements in design and engineering, but I think each line is unique in its own way. Be it partsformers, or faux parts (2 things I never really "got" nor do they bother me) I take it as part of whatever style that particular line is in. If I had to choose, I'd say faux parts stick out a bit more, but it's never been a big enough problem to keep me from enjoying a figure, whether transforming it or just displaying it. I'm a Transformers fan, and I take the figures as they come, even when sometimes I dislike some features.

Technically speaking, Cybertron Optimus Prime has no real faux parts, as the "windows" in this chest are merely for style and are never meant to transform into the truck cab windows. The same can be said for Powermaster, G2 Hero and G2 Laser Prime. They're merely to solidify his identity.

In all honesty, partforming feels more like cheating to me than having faux parts does. At least faux parts still make a perfectly transforming figure at the expense of an accurate portrayal. If you want partforming, check out Kre-O

I don't think I have any non-weapon, non-Kre-O partsformers. Well, there's Movie Brawl, who's cannon pops off and goes nowhere for bot mode. But overall I'm not really familiar with it. I actually kinda want an extreme partsformer, like Omega Supreme; there's just something amusingly inhuman about a being that just naturally tears itself apart ("What? You mean you humans can't detach your heads?").

Faux parts bug the crap out of me, though. I like my TFs to be made up of the actual vehicle they turn into, not merely look like they do.

I actually like the assembly side of part forming, particularly on the old G1 combiners where you would stick the massive noggin in place.

Faux parts, however, are generally lame. The only decent case for them I can think of is on Classics voyager Prime, where the robot 'abs' make for a much nicer shape than the real grille, which would give prime a massive beer belly.

Being honest, there are times when partsforming would be better than having alt-mode/robot-mode storage for some parts. Usually this means weapons to me. I don't care if a weapon folds up and tucks away, it almost always looks horrible (like with any of the Alternators/Binaltech toys). Sometimes it works very well, like with Classics Prowl or RtS Jazz who's weapons look good in robot mode and store away in vehicle mode. Honestly though, if they don't end up looking THAT good, then they shouldn't bother trying to fit them into the alt. mode and just have them as a bit somewhere.

Another time when partsforming would be MUCH more preferable is with combiners. If Hasbro didn't feel pressured by fans to have every part of a robot mode be able to store in vehicle mode, then FoC Onslaught would look a hell of a lot better in vehicle mode! If the head were a part that you could just attach it would leave the vehicle mode free to have a place for the hands to go, or fill in the gap left in the back portion. Same with the waist shield and the hands for Bruticus.

EDIT:: To actually answer the question: I hate most of the faux parts we get, like RID Cliffjumpers' chest.

Faux parts don't bother me, as long as there's no extra set of fake wheels and the actual alt. parts don't end up somewhere ridiculous.

I've never had a problem with Partsformers. Never will.

By "Kim Yura" & "Zimmo81"

Henry921 wrote:You can always be counted on to listen to reason, Pryme.

Dead Metal wrote:Have you ever, and i mean ever seen/read/heard something that is completely original and does not copy/homage/pay tribute to something else? Here's a hint: Nope. You never have and you never will.

To be honest, the only transformations that make me feel a little cheated is when there's transformations that pretty much only consist of unfolding the Transformer and then twisting it around once *cough Fall of Cybertron Optimus cough* (my Beast Wars toys are the same size and they're hugely more complicated, what gives?), as well as Transformers that transform into animals, but make no effort to actually conceal the alt-mode.

To use another Optimus as an example, take the Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal (or Jungle Planet Prime, I guess). Looks fine from the front (pretty awesome, even), but turn him around and there's a big honkin' gorilla head staring at you.

kwanzaabot wrote:To use another Optimus as an example, take the Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal (or Jungle Planet Prime, I guess). Looks fine from the front (pretty awesome, even), but turn him around and there's a big honkin' gorilla head staring at you.

That face folds into the chest piece, so it ends up... staring... at his butt...

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:That face folds into the chest piece, so it ends up... staring... at his butt...

Exactly, and it only kinda sorta folds into the chest. It's almost like they just ran outta steam towards the end of the design process. Every other part of Primal looks great... and then there's the gorilla head/robot butt combo.

Noideaforaname wrote:I actually kinda want an extreme partsformer, like Omega Supreme; there's just something amusingly inhuman about a being that just naturally tears itself apart

I tend to give an automatic partsforming pass to robots which turn into a set of altmodes rather than a single altmode, as they pretty much have to break up in order for the resulting set of vehicles (or whatever) to not be stuck in a giant Katamari ball. Of course, if the individual altmodes are constructed from multiple robot pieces, it becomes partsforming again.

Thus, characters like Omega Supreme and Tidal Wave pass under the radar.

Personally, I just HATE partforming. Having separate fists for G1 bots or taking a vehicle appart to make the bot is very sad.

The only place I can forgive partforming is if it's a bot that get enhanced by a power armor using parts of a different vehicle to get it's super mode. Ironically, one such bot is GodGinrai and it's my favorite G1 ever. Strange.

I dont really like when the weapon is just an obvious altmode kibble that is repurposed.

I dont mind faux-parts at all. Instead, I find them really clever. So many good Optimus Prime toys would be less good without them.

Geminii wrote:Thus, characters like Omega Supreme and Tidal Wave pass under the radar.

Oh yeah, even if I hate partforming, multiple vehicles that combine into a single robot are forgivable. I LOVE Armada Tidalwave. I also love BWN Magmatron. However, if it's from a single entity, like Prime Gaia Unicron, that's just lame.

Motto:"For I have dipped my hands in muddied waters, and, withdrawing them, find 'tis better to be a commander than a common man!"

Weapon: Dark Saber Sword

Well, I don't know. I sure as hell prefer faux parts over partforming, but honestly, I could care less what figure uses which; as long as it's branded with an Autobot/Decepticon/Maximal/Predacon logo, it qualifies as a Transformer to me.

Motto:"For I have dipped my hands in muddied waters, and, withdrawing them, find 'tis better to be a commander than a common man!"

Weapon: Dark Saber Sword

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

kwanzaabot wrote:To use another Optimus as an example, take the Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal (or Jungle Planet Prime, I guess). Looks fine from the front (pretty awesome, even), but turn him around and there's a big honkin' gorilla head staring at you.

That face folds into the chest piece, so it ends up... staring... at his butt...

I don't really have a problem with faux-parts, as long as the toy transforms. Parts-forming doesn't bother me too much, as long as it's saved foe accessories mostly. Shell-forming bothers me, and unless it's got a great robot mode or is a high profile character, i'll pass. Not that we see to much shell-forming these days.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Neither, really. I grew up with G1, so whatever they entail is what I consider "Transformers." That's the line I compare every other line to. Sometimes the newer line exceeds g1, sometimes it doesn't. There have been certain improvements in design and engineering, but I think each line is unique in its own way. Be it partsformers, or faux parts (2 things I never really "got" nor do they bother me) I take it as part of whatever style that particular line is in. If I had to choose, I'd say faux parts stick out a bit more, but it's never been a big enough problem to keep me from enjoying a figure, whether transforming it or just displaying it. I'm a Transformers fan, and I take the figures as they come, even when sometimes I dislike some features.

Motto:"For I have dipped my hands in muddied waters, and, withdrawing them, find 'tis better to be a commander than a common man!"

Weapon: Dark Saber Sword

Cyber Bishop wrote:

RhA wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:Neither, really. I grew up with G1, so whatever they entail is what I consider "Transformers." That's the line I compare every other line to. Sometimes the newer line exceeds g1, sometimes it doesn't. There have been certain improvements in design and engineering, but I think each line is unique in its own way. Be it partsformers, or faux parts (2 things I never really "got" nor do they bother me) I take it as part of whatever style that particular line is in. If I had to choose, I'd say faux parts stick out a bit more, but it's never been a big enough problem to keep me from enjoying a figure, whether transforming it or just displaying it. I'm a Transformers fan, and I take the figures as they come, even when sometimes I dislike some features.

This.

Agreed, I could not have said it any better..

Same deal. If it transforms and labeled with the Autobot/Decepticon faction symbol, it's a Transformer.

Mindmaster wrote:labeled with the Autobot/Decepticon faction symbol, it's a Transformer.

I guess these guys aren't really Transformers, then.

By "Kim Yura" & "Zimmo81"

Henry921 wrote:You can always be counted on to listen to reason, Pryme.

Dead Metal wrote:Have you ever, and i mean ever seen/read/heard something that is completely original and does not copy/homage/pay tribute to something else? Here's a hint: Nope. You never have and you never will.

Henry921 wrote:You can always be counted on to listen to reason, Pryme.

Dead Metal wrote:Have you ever, and i mean ever seen/read/heard something that is completely original and does not copy/homage/pay tribute to something else? Here's a hint: Nope. You never have and you never will.

I feel like fake parts are warranted sometimes. Look at FE Optimus. However, it DOES bug me when you cross over into PRiD Cliffjumper territory. Hell, PRiD Magnus is loaded with fake bits! I still like him.

Speaking of Magnus, my RID Magnus is a partsformer, and I can forgive that. Partsforming is fine by me, so long as it's not like, well, Kre-o or something. I love the kreons though.

As for shellforming? I dont know... the only 'shellformer' I have is RID Prowl, and he's fine by me.

Henry921 wrote:You can always be counted on to listen to reason, Pryme.

Dead Metal wrote:Have you ever, and i mean ever seen/read/heard something that is completely original and does not copy/homage/pay tribute to something else? Here's a hint: Nope. You never have and you never will.